It has a nice ring to it.  Often we make plans based on the calendar year. We can be creatures of habit and tend to choose races that we've run year after year.  Our training regime can follow a pattern too. Winter months building a good base of miles, Spring and Fall speed workouts, Christmas holiday time off.  Let me suggest some things to do for your 2002 running year.

Set short and long-term goals:  Pick races that are less than two months away and also ones that may take more than time to prepare. Choose some races for fun and others that have greater significance or offer a greater challenge. Use these events to help inspire you to work out. Especially, when you need to motivate yourself to run in bad weather. Spend time during your workouts thinking about what your race will be like.  Olympic gold medallist, Billie Mills, went over his winning performance more than twenty times a day before he ran the race.

Make plans and commitments: You're more likely to stick with a plan if you make an investment.  It is a little like asking someone to marry you and making the wedding plans.  Some major races reach their quotas quickly.  Grandma's Marathon entries become available at he end of this month and usually close within a few weeks.  Most of the hotels in Duluth are already booked. Signing up for small races can also help you focus your mind on what you need to do to prepare for it.  Putting a training plan together with the focus on certain races can add adrenalin to the tough workouts. Your confidence on race morning will also get a boost when you know you've done your homework.

Make little alterations:  Routine can be a benefit to sticking with a program but is can also get us stuck in a rut. Choosing the same courses day after day allows our minds to meditate while we run and the familiarity puts us in a comfort zone.  Breaking up daily patterns can breath new life into our running.  Take the time to drive to a new location, especially somewhere scenic.  We have wonderful state and metro parks in Michigan that are worth the extra effort.  Windsor has spent millions on new landscape for their riverfront.  There is something majestic about watching big ships pass you by as you run along the Detroit River.

Find one new running relationship: Many of us like the unencumbered ability to choose when, where and how we run. A training partner can add distraction and stress to our daily plans.  They can also be a huge benefit.  Your pace can improve by more than two minutes yet the perception of effort will seem the same, especially if the conversation is stimulating.  These partners also help you with commitment. Discover what a new partner can do for you in 2002.

Upcoming Race:  5 Mile Frozen Foot Race & 2 Mile Family Fitness Run/Walk, January 19, 2002, Traverse City, Eastern Elementary Cafeteria, 1600 Eastern Ave, E of TC Senior High, 10:00 AM, Contact: Chuck Bissell at 231-275-7716